Lace-curtain stretcher



(No Model.)

J. 0. GHENOWETH. LAGB CURTAIN STRETOHBR.

No. 543,644. Patented July 30, 1895.

UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE.

JOSEPH O. OHENOWETH, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

LACE-CU RTAIN STRETCH ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 543,644, dated July 30,1895.

Application filed November 19, 1894- Serial No. 529,250. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JosEPH O. OHENOWETH, a citizen of the United States,residing at the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented acertain new and useful Improvement in Lace-Curtain Stretchers, of whichthe following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,

wherein Figure l is a view illustrating a portion of my improvedstretcher in operative position. Fig. 2 is a rear view of one of theclasps,and Fig. 3 is a detail view of the hook or prong bylwhich theclasp is secured to the frameral This invention relates to a new anduseful improvement in stretchers for lace curtains and similar articles,and more particularly to the clasp by which the edges of the curtain aredetachably secured to the rails of the stretcherframe.

The objects of theinvention are to provide a stretcher-frame with anumber of clasps, which are slidingly strung on a rod or wire arrangedlongitudinally the frame rails, which clasps are provided with suitablemeans of attachment to the rails, and which clasps are in the form ofgrippers, between whose jaws the curtain is clamped without perforationor mutilation.

With these objects in view the invention consists in the combinationwith a padded rail, in front of which is arranged a rod or wire, andupon which rod or wire are strung a number of clasps, each beingprovided with a hook or prong for insertion into the pad at diflerentpoints along the length of the rail, so as to adjust themselves to thedifferent designs of the curtains to be stretched. Other minor featuresreside in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the severalparts, all as will hereinafter be described and afterward pointed out inthe claims.

In the drawings, A indicates one of the frame-rails of the stretcher,the face of which is padded, as shown. Arranged in front of this paddedrail, preferably near its lower edge to suit the form of clasp used, isa rod or wire B, which is secured to said rail at its ends in anysuitable manner. Strung on this wire B are clasps O, of any suitableconstruction, the form shown in the drawings consisting of two partsjoined together by a'torsional spring, whose ends embrace the jaws ofthe clasp to hold them yieldingly together. The rod or wire B, when thisform of clasp is used, passes through the torsional spring. On one ofthe members of a jaw of this clasp is arranged a hook or prong D, whichis adapted to be inserted in the pad on the rail to hold the clasp inposition during the operation of stretching and drying the curtainclamped between the jaws. This hook is, preferably, of the formshown inFig. 3, where the shank (1 passes through the jaw of the clasp, is thenbent around said jaw to the front, and, finally, formed with an eyewhich encircles the base of the hook. This construction securesrigidity; but I do not wish to be understood as confining myself to theexact manner of attachment of hook D, nor, for that matter, to theparticular shape of said hook, as there are many forms which could asadvantageously be used without departing from the nature and principleof my invention.

The advantages of a stretcher as illustrated in the drawings are many,among which may be mentioned the following: The fasteners are adjustablealong the length of the rail. Therefore they may be adapted to thespecial shape of the edge of the curtain to be stretched. The fasteners,when attached to the curtain, are individually adjustable outwardly,whereby the curtain may be stretched more at one place than another. Thefastener does not perforate nor mutilate the curtain, the recessesin'the jaws receiving the selvage or braided edge without tearing. Thefasteners are not liable to be -misplaced,but are always present inoperative position on the rail.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. In a lace curtain stretcher, the combination with a padded rail, of arod or wire arranged longitudinally thereon, clasps strung on said rodor wire, and hooks on the clasps whereby they may be attached to thepadded rail by inserting the hook in the pad, sub stantially asdescribed.

2. In a lace curtain stretcher the combination with a padded rail, ofspring claspsformed of two jaws having a broad gripping surface,

signature, in presence of two witnesses, this 15th day of November,1894:.

JOSEPH O. OHENOWE'lI-I.

Witnesses:

F. R. CORNWALL, HUGH K. WAGNER.

